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Another promise: West End port to reopen by early 2019

Contributed photo of a temporary structure that has been erected to house Customs and Immigration officers at the West End Ferry Dock.

An early 2019 timeline has been promised for the port in West End to reopen and accept public ferries.

This, the latest of several promises from the Ministry of Communication & Works was made by the minister responsible for ports, Mark Vanterpool.

“We are hoping to have the West End port open and operating by January or February next year for ferry passengers,” Vanterpool told members of the media on Thursday.

The port has been closed to the public since the September 2017 disasters and has only been accepting private maritime traffic.

Temporary facilities have been set up at the location to accommodate the Customs and Immigration officers that are based at the facility, in the meantime.

The West End port is said to be a strong revenue-earner for the territory as it relates to facilitating public ferries between Tortola and the neighbouring United States Virgin Islands.

Just two months ago, Vanterpool said on public radio that his ministry was working to have the all-important port reopened by Christmas.

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23 Comments

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  1. Wow says:

    Relocate the ferry somewhere else
    And make méga- yachts port with boutique you will make more money and West end will become the place to go to in the Caribbean just like St Barth

    Like 11
    Dislike 4
    • Anonymous says:

      A few years ago the redevelopment of the West End Ferry dock was redesigned by CH2M Hill now called Javons Engineering. The redevelopment called for a parking garage and first world amenities. The project went out to bid and a qualified offshore company bid the project and was within budget. The project was scrapped because T***** Construction was supposed to get the job but his bid was twice the foreign bid. So….no west End Terminall because the crooks and the politicians couldn’t make any money and the people get nothing. Third world Africans acting like they are sophisticated and question why the Brits won’t guarantee their loans.

      Like 19
    • Rubber Duck says:

      I believe everything Mr Vatatool says.

  2. Smh says:

    A promise is a comfort to a fool. We ain’t no fool. A lie is a lie is a lie is a lie.

    Like 12
  3. ONeil says:

    Promises. Promises. More unfullfilled promises.

    Let’s face it, this man is directly responsible for our crumbling and toxic infrastructure. Our first responders have recently fallen ill due to his neglect. Our ports remain unbuilt and fall below even third world standards. Our west end port facilities are a grotesque embarasment and a monument to this man’s inability to manage even simple projects.

    There needs to be accountability or we will never recover. He needs to be fired!

    Like 17
    • Rubber Duck says:

      But he did so well for himself with the pier park and cruise ship dock.

      • Reverend says:

        While the Minister has failed us he seems to have done quite well for himself. Would he be willing to prove his honesty by releasing his tax returns and acknowledging his beneficial interests in BVI Companies? Or does he want to keep that between himself and his Maker?

        Judgement day is coming either way.

  4. Ausar says:

    Great news for the facilitation of ferry services between the US and British Virgin Islands!

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  5. ndp heckler says:

    Might as well we had built a permanent structure because this is taking so long

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  6. LOL says:

    Is that a fowl cock in that little coop? The chickens really came home to roost

    Like 11
    Dislike 1
  7. oh boy says:

    don’t tell me that the roosters already took over?

  8. Struggling Man says:

    Hon. Minister, it’s time for you to go and sit down. The BVI doesn’t need another 4 years of your lies.
    Please resign immediately as you have failed the people big time.

    Like 22
    Dislike 1
  9. Gerance P. says:

    It is a disgrace that the terminal hasn’t been rebuilt already and open for ferries. Those ferries brought us needed travelers and needed consumers! Our island should NOT ALWAYS BE ABOUT ROAD TOWN!

    Like 5
    Dislike 1
  10. yea mon says:

    even the Roaster making his grant entrance.

  11. Hmmm says:

    Everyone must suffer because NDP wants to spite Fahie

    Like 10
  12. SMDH says:

    Mark always says what he thinks will silent the crowd but it is never the truth.

  13. FIRST DISTRICT says:

    I have heard our First District Representative Hon. Andrew A. Fahie ask about this project over and over and over and all answers Mark gave turn out to be lies. This is unacceptable.

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  14. Clearly says:

    Clearly this minister is a con artist.

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  15. Grandmother says:

    He needs to apologize to us for all the hurt and harm he cause.

  16. Please says:

    He’s on the election ticket again so he actually has to say something and rush to do a few things. Now he’ll spend tons of money for a temp structure. Sick of this. We need better options for the proper running of this country.

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